Skip to main content
Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment
Chapter 18, Problem 75b

(b) Will Mg(OH)2 precipitate when 4.0 g of Na2CO3 is added to 1.00 L of a solution containing 125 ppm of Mg2+?

Verified Solution

Video duration:
14m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)

The solubility product constant (Ksp) is a numerical value that represents the equilibrium between a solid and its ions in a saturated solution. For Mg(OH)2, Ksp indicates the maximum concentration of Mg2+ and OH- ions that can exist in solution before precipitation occurs. Understanding Ksp is essential to determine if the concentration of ions exceeds this value, leading to precipitation.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:47
Solubility Product Constant

Precipitation Reactions

Precipitation reactions occur when two soluble salts react to form an insoluble compound, or precipitate. In this case, adding Na2CO3 introduces carbonate ions, which can react with Mg2+ ions to form Mg(OH)2. Recognizing the conditions under which precipitation occurs is crucial for predicting whether a solid will form in a solution.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:53
Selective Precipitation

Concentration Calculations

Concentration calculations involve determining the molarity of ions in a solution, which is essential for assessing whether a precipitate will form. In this scenario, converting the mass of Na2CO3 to moles and then calculating the resulting concentration of Mg2+ ions allows for comparison with Ksp. Accurate concentration calculations are vital for predicting the outcome of the reaction.
Recommended video:
Guided course
07:35
Calculate Concentration of the Basic Form
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The solar power striking Earth every day averages 168 watts per square meter. The highest ever recorded electrical power usage in New York City was 13,200 MW. A record established in July of 2013. Considering that present technology for solar energy conversion is about 10% efficient, from how many square meters of land must sunlight be collected in order to provide this peak power? (For compar- ison, the total area of New York City is 830 km2.)

1768
views
Textbook Question

Write balanced chemical equations for each of the following reactions: (b) The nitric oxide molecule undergoes photoionization in the upper atmosphere.

396
views
Textbook Question

Write balanced chemical equations for each of the following reactions: (d) Nitrogen dioxide dissolves in water to form nitric acid and nitric oxide.

535
views
Textbook Question

(b) Concentrations of lead in the bloodstream are often quoted in units of μg/dL. Averaged over the entire country, the mean concentration of lead in the blood was measured to be 1.6 μg/dL in 2008. Express this concentration in ppb.

378
views
Textbook Question

The estimated average concentration of NO2 in air in the United States in 2006 was 0.016 ppm. (a) Calculate the partial pressure of the NO2 in a sample of this air when the atmospheric pressure is 755 torr (99.1 kPa).

503
views
Textbook Question

In 1986 an electrical power plant in Taylorsville, Georgia, burned 8,376,726 tons of coal, a national record at that time. (a) Assuming that the coal was 83% carbon and 2.5% sulfur and that combustion was complete, calculate the number of tons of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide pro- duced by the plant during the year.

1468
views